It’s Winter…Go Shoot!

It’s that time of year again. If you live in a northern climate, the weather has turned cold (bitterly cold in the US this week), snow has fallen, ice is everywhere.

It’s the perfect time to go out and shoot. Yes, that’s right, the perfect time to shoot. While outdoor photographers all love shooting in the fall and spring, or getting that gorgeous early morning shot while staying nice and warm, the winter is actually one of the best times of year to photograph. The sun rises later and sets earlier, making scheduling golden hour shooting a lot more convenient, and even outside those hours, the sun remains low in the sky all day, providing far better mid-day light than in other parts of the year.

Finally, there’s constantly changing conditions. Snow and ice can radically transform your favorite locations, giving you incentive to continually get out and snap some photos. The year is only 8 days old, but I’ve already snagged a fair few decent images. I even forced myself to go out for a minute during the Arctic Vortex on Monday (and that’s all I stayed out) for the ‘Frozen Columbus’ image below. The -4 degree Fahrenheit temperature (-27F wind chill) created frost mist on the river, leading to a very compelling scene.

So bundle up and get on out there. Remember to pack the gloves and bring a few spare batteries, as they will die a lot faster in the cold.